O.M.G. .. I'm mortified.

Unfortunately I am referring to Usher's version..

Yeah.The boy heard this song in Jim's car on one of their outings. He managed to remember certain lyrics.  I also have this song on my iPod. My kids didn't listen to my shuffle at all. Aedan would walk around singing this song and I'd tell him to knock it off.  So then I get the iTouch. I load my music on there. They listen to my music often. This of course causes the boy to sing this song more often and then also play the song more often. As a result he has taught Alexa a certain line. I wasn't too concerned. She was singing it and it was kinda funny. Until the other day.

I went to go outside with the kids and I hear Alexa singing...then the neighbor says "oh you better not teach Joseph** that song" . I about flipped out. Yelled at her to come inside. Grabbed the other 2 and went on a tear.

She was singing the line... "honey's got some boobies like wow oh wow..." it figures that would be the easiest line to remember. *she types with a bag over her head*

So now.. it has been deleted from my iTouch and they have been warned that if I hear them singing it they will ALL get pepper in their mouths as a result. Alexa still sings it but not within earshot apparently and we haven't caught her yet. I just keep warning her. Oiy. I have those kids that the other Moms pull their own kids away from at the playground. Super.

** names have been changed to protect the innocent. :)

Crazy Idea or Cool Possibility ??

So a few people have told me I should write a book. I laughed them off with a wave of the hand thinking they are nuts and I could never write a book. But as I got to thinking I'm wondering if I could actually do it.  I kinda know what it would be about but would people really want to buy it?   I'm running through the idea in my mind and they are racing at me one after another. So. I have loads of ideas but ideas get you nowhere if you don't have a plan.  So for now all I have is lots and lots of ideas and nowhere to go with them. Maybe my next idea will put me on the road with a real plan or make me realize it was all just a crazy idea like I figured from the beginning. I guess we shall see.

Baby Dreams and Celebrations

Today I attended the baby shower for my dear cousin Elizabeth. This has been the most anticipated event of the century, in my opinion. If you know Elizabeth and Danny and what it took to get to today then you might agree as well.  Just about 7 years ago I had the joy of participating in Elizabeth and Danny's wedding. It was a wonderful day. A little while after they were married they decided they wanted to start a family like lots of new couples will.  But unlike most young couples Elizabeth ran into many roadblocks on the journey to becoming a Mommy.

Like myself and many people I know, Elizabeth suffered from infertility. A few tries at insemination brought them those much sought after double lines that every woman who struggles with infertility looks for every month. They were having a baby!  As fate may have it , Baby decided to  set up camp in the tube and as a result Elizabeth lost her tube and her special little angel.  We were very lucky that we didn't lose Elizabeth in the process and are so very thankful.  After so much heartbreak some people would decide to give up. But as anyone who has been on this type of journey knows, that yearning will always be there so to quit is out of the question.  Many months went by of wishing and hoping each month and praying for that miracle. And in that time they underwent IUI eleven more times to no avail. At the end of all that they were lucky enough to be able to try IVF. This unfortunately failed as well.

Deciding to take a break, a year went by before attempting IVF again but not before trying other options. A trip to see a fertility god in Atlantic City to try and up their odds was tossed into the mix. But before they made it there it was moved to Ocean City, MD, so off they went to Maryland.  Hey, it couldn't hurt right?
And then.... the fall of 2010... Their 2nd attempt at IVF.  The odds are not with them as Elizabeth is working with only 1 tube.  And yet.. this is it. This is the one that works and this the one that will bring them their miracle.

After so much waiting and wanting, praying and hoping only to be let down and disappointed this was their special gift. (I still get goosebumps thinking about the phone call I got from Elizabeth telling me she was pregnant. I get happy when someone is blessed with a pregnancy but this was different. I still tear up thinking about how happy I am for her and Danny. Wiping the tears thinking about it now.)

So now we all have to wait. Wait for baby Ross to make his or her arrival. He/she was originally due in August but because issues with the placenta and baby's size (great so far) Elizabeth and Danny (and all of us) will get to meet their own special someone in July.  God Bless you Baby Ross and may your Mommy have a smooth and wonderful delivery.

A Passion for Purple

The boy has a sudden love of all things purple.  He's gotten a few t-shirts that are purple to mix up his spring and summer wardrobe and that's fine with me. I have no problem with him wanting to express himself with color. It's not like they are girl shirts he's trying to wear. So when his basketball sneakers grew a big ol' hole in the toe I was dreading the ultimate choice that would be made to replace them. I was trying to sway him with other options.  I was not too keen on the options out there when it came to purple sneakers for boys. I'd point out black and red like his old ones.  Black and gray ones or plain black. Even gray ones with blue soles and orange laces. No dice. He wanted purple. he saw the above shoes at Foot Locker one night and fell in love. The Man and I were not impressed and told him not to settle and that there were plenty of other shoe stores to find shoes hoping he'd find something totally different.  We searched and searched for acceptable replacements. Every shoe store and online store available. Anything he'd pick out was not available in his size. So after a week we ended up back at Foot Locker and bought these gems. After seeing some of the plastic, shiny looking shoes out there I actually like these ones and I'm pretty glad some of his other choices were out of stock. 

Purple. Oh well.. it could be worse and he could have wanted orange.

Mastermind or Evil Genius..

The boy's mind works in a way that I just can't grasp. Especially with games.

I want someone to teach him chess because I think he'd LOVE it.. I have no clue how to play so I'm useless.

I picked up a travel size Connect Four for him for Christmas. It was a more of a  "make sure the piles are equal" kind of gift. Well, that was a mistake. He wants to play anyone and everyone almost every day. And it's an off day if he loses 1 out of 5 games.

His mind can figure out how to set it up so he has 2 ways to win and you simply cannot beat him. He is 3 steps ahead with every play.  He has beaten us in 5 moves.. that's how good he is or maybe how bad we are. It's gotten to be a real competition for the adults here. My Mother plays him for money.  I play and sit there staring at the board before I make my *last* move.. It's insanity. Then when I lose I insist we play again, which is exactly what he wants to hear. He laughs his maniacal little laugh and says.. "I win.. again."

He plays this way with Blockus as well. I enjoy Blockus because at least with that I have a chance of winning on occasion. A very rare occasion.

He's like Rainman. I think I need to take him to Vegas in a couple years.

Note to self: find someone who knows how to play chess, get a chess board and have him learn.

From Baby to Big Girl...

How did time fly by so fast that she could possibly grow from this ..

To this…. 

in the blink of an eye. Have three years gone by already?  No wonder my womb is aching and yearning to be full again. It’s about this time that I’d be delivering again had we decided on a 4^th.  My Baby is no longer a baby and how I miss those days.  I gravitate towards all the new babies in my life like a parasite looking for a fresh host. I’m so glad my sister has accommodated me.  But she lives to far for me to get my fill often enough.

Alexa is at a great stage and yet I still miss those cuddly baby stages. She still cuddles but it’s usually at about 4 am when she climbs into my bed to finish her sleep off in my bed. Then she’ll wake up around 6:45 and ask for her chocolate milk. And if she doesn’t get it shortly thereafter her stubborn streak will wake the house up. She is a loud one. She's got some sass and a flair for the dramatic. She's got a style all her own and she is tough as nails. And then in an instant she can be sweet as pie. Even if it's only to get a piece of green gum.

She is so different from her brother and sister but wants to be just like them and grow up so fast while I try desperately to keep her little.  Two years from now she will be waving from the school bus and on her way to Kindergarten as I bawl my eyes out and wonder what happened to all of my chubby cheeked babies.

I don’t want to keep her from growing and learning but gosh in my mind if I let her do all the exciting things then she’ll just grow up faster and be gone in an instant. And as much as they drive me batty, I want my kids around me. Always. 

So Alexa on the eve of your 3^rd Birthday I want to wish you many years of happiness, love and adventure. Have fun because there is plenty of time to be serious. Believe me.  Be goofy and sing whatever you want and dance in the middle of the room and who cares who’s watching you.  Listen to your gut. If it feels wrong it probably is and if it feels right then go for it.  And every once in a while invite your old Mom on an adventure or two.. I could stand the fun. 

Happy Birthday Alexa Paige we love you lots and lots.

The Saga Continues. and ends.

Jim saw the Dr. today for his mysterious itching.  It apparently is not ringworm or some other icky contagious disease. It's simply a bad reaction of overly dry sensitive skin to an overly chlorinated pool. So anti-climactic.

Get some lotion and come see me when you pick up something way more interesting.